Ulster GAA final 2023 Armagh v Derry: Provincial Secretary Brian McEvoy urges fans to be respectful after Union Flag sectarian hate crime and IRA chanting at semi-finals

Ulster GAA has urged fans to be respectful at their Championship Final this weekend after their apparent involvement in sectarian hate crime and IRA chanting at the semi-finals.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 12th May 2023, 14:50 BST
Updated 12th May 2023, 15:22 BST

Provincial Secretary and CEO Brian McAvoy’s plea comes after video footage emerged of GAA supporters apparently ripping down a Union Flag from a flag pole on private land in Omagh – to loud cheering – just before the Derry-Monaghan final in Omagh on 29 April. The PSNI said they were treating the incident as "a sectarian motivated hate crime".

Subsequent footage appeared to show a group of fans chanting "Ooo-Ah-Up-The-RA" in the stadium during Armagh’s victory over Down in Clones on 30 April.

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In a statement, Brian McAvoy has urged people travelling to Sunday’s Ulster Senior Football Championship Final in Clones on Sunday to "respect the occasion and make it a joyous one for all".

Ulster GAA has urged fans to behave with respect ahead of their Senior Final in Clones this Sunday after incidents it said took place at both semi-finals. Fans apparently tore down a Union Flag on private property before one match - which the PSNI described as a sectarian hate crime - and also engaged in IRA chanting during the other. Pictured is the Union Flag being torn down on private property just before the semi-final in Omagh.Ulster GAA has urged fans to behave with respect ahead of their Senior Final in Clones this Sunday after incidents it said took place at both semi-finals. Fans apparently tore down a Union Flag on private property before one match - which the PSNI described as a sectarian hate crime - and also engaged in IRA chanting during the other. Pictured is the Union Flag being torn down on private property just before the semi-final in Omagh.
Ulster GAA has urged fans to behave with respect ahead of their Senior Final in Clones this Sunday after incidents it said took place at both semi-finals. Fans apparently tore down a Union Flag on private property before one match - which the PSNI described as a sectarian hate crime - and also engaged in IRA chanting during the other. Pictured is the Union Flag being torn down on private property just before the semi-final in Omagh.

He added: "Unfortunately, isolated actions by a very small minority of supporters at both semi-finals did nothing to enhance our status within the community and I appeal to all supporters to by all means get behind their team, but to do so in a way which is respectful to everyone, irrespective of their creed, gender, tradition, political opinion, or indeed which team they support."

The DUP welcomed the GAA statement but also called for nationalist politicians to open up a conversation about sectarianism and the ongoing glorification of terrorism in GAA culture.

DUP sports spokesperson Stephen Dunne said: “This is a welcome step by the GAA in acknowledging the unacceptable behaviour by some fans. Whilst they cannot be accountable for the actions of every individual who attends a match there is a responsibility of leadership on the GAA as an organisation.

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"This statement will be welcomed and I hope it can be the start of a process rather than a one-off event. There is a need for a conversation across wider nationalism as to why we have seen such incidents, and particular where people and players seek to glorify IRA terrorism. The GAA must be part of that but those within political nationalism need to step forward and demonstrate the leadership they so often talk about.”

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